Yesterday there was an interesting, and I'll admit touching, video posted by the company Dove. It highlighted the slogan "You're more beautiful than you think". The point I am sure they were trying to make did hit home as I often think and know I am far too critical of my looks.
Today, an article responding to this campaign, making some thought provoking points.
The video did bother me a little as they didn't spend much time letting women of color speak. Most of the women did seem to be blonde, of average weight, middle aged. The words they spoke did hit me as superficial. I wondered, who says the picture on the right is more beautiful? If you asked 100 people from different countries you would not always get the same answer.
Lots to think about. I do think it's interesting that we see ourselves differently than other people do.
Today I was browsing Instagram and saw a wonderful photo a friend posted of her, being plus sized, wearing a tube top (I always think they look cute but not on me) with a caption about size acceptance. I browsed some other photos under this tag and was led to an #anorexia tag. Which is a disturbing series of self hating women posting things like "I need to stop eating" and who show off their skeleton looking bodies with bones jetting out and actually get many "likes" and positive comments like "I love your body". Unbelieveable.
I got into the shower thinking about my friend and her obvious self acceptance and confidence as I mindlessly shaved off some of my body hair. The dreaded, must shave my forest before I wear a bathing suit around my peers shower. Ugh. What a chore. I only shave for these occasions.
Then it struck me. All the talk about self acceptance and here I was, shaving only for the reason that I did not want to be ridiculed. And so I put down the razor and left the rest and decided that I am beautiful and everyone on earth knows that I have body hair anyway. And I feel triumphant knowing that I can walk around in clothes I like, with hair that I like, with my own body hair and no nail polish or make up (the horror) and be confident.
You know what, I take really good care of myself. I eat clean an am busy with three kids so I don't get a whole lot of dedicated workout time in. I am 30 pounds overweight and I jiggle just about everywhere. I can't pull off skinny jeans without looking like I'm standing on sausages but who cares! I'm healthy and still sustaining other life forms and for that I am very glad.
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Monday, April 15, 2013
Cha cha cha chia!
Some days I laugh at what I am eating; like plain salad greens or kale juice with kombucha or today a chia smoothie with water kefir. Mmm, crunchy. It's kind of ridiculous at times. Some days I start wondering if I could actually survive on nothing but water and chia seeds... I'm just glad the good weather is here and I can get out and get more exercise.
The no make up challenge is going extremely well. I'm surprised at how much better my skin looks. Was make up (natural mineral and hemp oil based) causing my skin to look bad I wonder. I'm surprised at how much more confidence I feel just knowing that I'm not hiding under my make up.
Water and chia. Kale. Still no time to meditate but I did download the app for that. :)
The no make up challenge is going extremely well. I'm surprised at how much better my skin looks. Was make up (natural mineral and hemp oil based) causing my skin to look bad I wonder. I'm surprised at how much more confidence I feel just knowing that I'm not hiding under my make up.
Water and chia. Kale. Still no time to meditate but I did download the app for that. :)
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Thoughts on Being Vegan
Three months ago I went (cooked) vegan for the first time ever. I had only been raw vegan off and on for the past eight years or so intermixed with so called "traditional foods". Raw vegan is amazing but last year I developed an aversion to fruit, no appetite and I do miss hot food in the winter. Something I could possibly get over in the future.
I made the decision based on a strong desire to reduce my consumption of the earth's resources. Secondly, I wanted to be healthier and have known for years that dairy, meat and animal fats cause issues for me ranging from ear infections to lethargy and food cravings.
Let's get this straight, vegan food (raw or cooked) is tasty but not in the way that makes me want to stuff myself until I can't move and then turn around and so it again as soon as possible. My feelings toward food ie food addiction have changed drastically. I eat because I need nutrients not because sucking down fat and protein feels good, at least while I'm doing it, that initial rush followed by "omg why did I eat all that"!
I feel great physically and emotionally. I have a lot more energy. My skin looks better. My new goal is to stop wearing make up. I still have the usual struggles of needing to remember to drink more water and exercise more. I need to meditate more and stay more aware/mindful/present. My blood pressure and blood sugar is down to ideal levels now simply from diet alone, and I still get to eat some fun things that wouldn't be allowed on a raw diet. So win/win.
I am wary of processed meat substitutes and anything packaged really, as most of it contains MSG or other unhealthy additives. Vegan does not automatically equal healthy. Tempeh, although it is a whole food generally even promoted by pro meat diets, does not agree with me. I only eat sprouted grain bread at the moment and love it.
My taste buds have changed. I am finally able to eat natural no additive peanut butter and I do not use any salt or pepper instead I use other seasonings which typically have great health promoting properties. I finally got away from using honey and almost all other sweeteners except a rare tiny amount of stevia.
For my family, since they are not vegan, I have made additional commitments to buy local and pasture raised products. We raise beef and recently added laying hens for eggs (a totally fun project and I have found local organic farmer's co op that sells livestock feed). Possibly meat birds and pork are in our future. Our dairy, chicken and pork is from local small farms. I am looking for local farm raised fish currently.
I made the decision based on a strong desire to reduce my consumption of the earth's resources. Secondly, I wanted to be healthier and have known for years that dairy, meat and animal fats cause issues for me ranging from ear infections to lethargy and food cravings.
Let's get this straight, vegan food (raw or cooked) is tasty but not in the way that makes me want to stuff myself until I can't move and then turn around and so it again as soon as possible. My feelings toward food ie food addiction have changed drastically. I eat because I need nutrients not because sucking down fat and protein feels good, at least while I'm doing it, that initial rush followed by "omg why did I eat all that"!
I feel great physically and emotionally. I have a lot more energy. My skin looks better. My new goal is to stop wearing make up. I still have the usual struggles of needing to remember to drink more water and exercise more. I need to meditate more and stay more aware/mindful/present. My blood pressure and blood sugar is down to ideal levels now simply from diet alone, and I still get to eat some fun things that wouldn't be allowed on a raw diet. So win/win.
I am wary of processed meat substitutes and anything packaged really, as most of it contains MSG or other unhealthy additives. Vegan does not automatically equal healthy. Tempeh, although it is a whole food generally even promoted by pro meat diets, does not agree with me. I only eat sprouted grain bread at the moment and love it.
My taste buds have changed. I am finally able to eat natural no additive peanut butter and I do not use any salt or pepper instead I use other seasonings which typically have great health promoting properties. I finally got away from using honey and almost all other sweeteners except a rare tiny amount of stevia.
For my family, since they are not vegan, I have made additional commitments to buy local and pasture raised products. We raise beef and recently added laying hens for eggs (a totally fun project and I have found local organic farmer's co op that sells livestock feed). Possibly meat birds and pork are in our future. Our dairy, chicken and pork is from local small farms. I am looking for local farm raised fish currently.
Tuesday, March 05, 2013
Life Simplified
It's an early spring cleaning around here. I've been busy de-cluttering my life!
Electronic: I first deleted thousands of old emails. I unsubscribed from a couple dozen yahoo groups. I unsubscribed to a hundred e lists, e articles and websites offering coupons (that I don't use). I backed up our documents, photos and videos with an online storage service (dropbox.com).
Food: I stocked our freezer with 200 pounds of organic, free range, local meats! Enough beef, pork and chicken for the year. Not having to worry about finding and affording good meat for my non vegan family members makes my life easier. I will soon make a trip to buy LOCAL shrimp! In the midwest that's a big deal. I obtained a dozen wide mouth half gallon jars and filled them with beans, grains and other organic bulk dry goods. So tidy and money saving.
Finances: I organized a stack of electronic gift cards, called all the phone numbers and realized I've been carrying around over $100! I used a few and am selling the ones I don't need. I discontinued use of several services including satellite TV, bottled water delivery and Time 4 Learning (ds says he doesn't like it anymore). Total savings $160/ month.
Household: We recovered our dining room chairs with clean-able fabric for a total cost of just $9 using remnant fabric.
Kids: We (meaning DH) took a truck load of old toys and clothes to the thrift store. I am detoxing some plastic electronic toys and replacing them with quality natural toys where possible.
Spreading the love: I gave away a dozen kombucha SCOBYs and water kefir crystals to a handful of people. I love sharing the probiotic drink love! I'm reading The 5 Love Languages... check it out!
Watch out closets and drawers I'm coming for you!
Electronic: I first deleted thousands of old emails. I unsubscribed from a couple dozen yahoo groups. I unsubscribed to a hundred e lists, e articles and websites offering coupons (that I don't use). I backed up our documents, photos and videos with an online storage service (dropbox.com).
Food: I stocked our freezer with 200 pounds of organic, free range, local meats! Enough beef, pork and chicken for the year. Not having to worry about finding and affording good meat for my non vegan family members makes my life easier. I will soon make a trip to buy LOCAL shrimp! In the midwest that's a big deal. I obtained a dozen wide mouth half gallon jars and filled them with beans, grains and other organic bulk dry goods. So tidy and money saving.
Finances: I organized a stack of electronic gift cards, called all the phone numbers and realized I've been carrying around over $100! I used a few and am selling the ones I don't need. I discontinued use of several services including satellite TV, bottled water delivery and Time 4 Learning (ds says he doesn't like it anymore). Total savings $160/ month.
Household: We recovered our dining room chairs with clean-able fabric for a total cost of just $9 using remnant fabric.
Kids: We (meaning DH) took a truck load of old toys and clothes to the thrift store. I am detoxing some plastic electronic toys and replacing them with quality natural toys where possible.
Spreading the love: I gave away a dozen kombucha SCOBYs and water kefir crystals to a handful of people. I love sharing the probiotic drink love! I'm reading The 5 Love Languages... check it out!
Watch out closets and drawers I'm coming for you!
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